Pilgrim's Path Daily

Thursday, December 22, 2005

DAILY BIBLE PROMISE

** God put His Cross where His Mouth Was - all along! ** Today's Bible Promise is ... "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Lk 6:38

NATURE WATCH - 90 seconds on natural wonders

FOTO TOTO?

You think your toenails are odd looking?!

I guess it's clear by now - I love camels! (And Giraffes - they're camels too, you know?!) I like looking at them - talking about them - making fun of them. I even like the way we think they are about as homely a creature as God ever created - yet value them so!

This camel has had her toenails painted. Like them better this way, do we?? Ha!

You know, there's ugly and then there's hideous. Plain ole, garden-variety, everyday ugly is one thing - but when we try to cover it up, or dress it up as something other-than what it is, ugly becomes grotesque and unsightly.

I'm not particularly proud of the sight of my toes or toenails - but I am not ashamed of them. Simply because they are what they are - and what God made them to be. I didn't have much to do with all of that. And I am not quite sure I know or understand why anyone would fancy toes & toenails, anyway?! It's just one of those things I don't give much thought.

But deceit is the coverup for sin. We saw this in Eden, when coverup was the very first flinching instinct of sinful man. Fig leaves make poor clothing, just as deceit hides nothing from God. No - sin had to be covered with blood - guilt with innocent death. So God made the very First Sacrifice for man - just as He would later make The Very LAST - His Own Lamb-Son!

Camels toes are not their best attribute. I much prefer their eyelashes, personally.

But I thank God for whatever honesty He has managed to enflame and kindle in my heart - even when that sometimes has required massive refining fires and devastating purgings. As for my toenails - well, that will just have to wait for another day!

PODCAST - DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

A hard heart does not Fear God! (see Gamali-el's advice Acts5:33-40)Who hardened Pharaoh's heart - Pharaoh, or God? It's a trick question. The correct answer is, 'both!'. Who hardened Israel's heart against God? Same thing. Does God harden hearts - against Him? Paul says that He does, in Ro 9:18: "Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.". But I doubt it could be proven, Biblically, that God ever hardened a heart that was not first hardened against Him. Where Jesus was concerned, we have the wonderfully Wise admonition (warning) of Gamali-el (Paul's Mentor), when addressing the Jewish Council, in Acts 5:33-40: "When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gama'li-el, a teacher of the law, held in honor by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a while. And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you do with these men. For before these days Theu'das arose, giving himself out to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was slain and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go." This was one time fools hearts were willing to be amended by wisdom. But to be afraid of God is NOT the same as having The Fear of God. These same rulers prove this distinction by later Crucifying their own Messiah - their only Hope. A hard heart does not Fear God. Let's try to remember this next time we prefer and choose our own way to what we know is God's Will for us!

CHRISTIAN STUDY RESOURCES

One of the most whimsical and foolish delusions which Satan in recent years has palmed off on some shallow-thinking Christians is the heresy that the souls of the wicked are to be annihilated. This error was never known among the ancient heathens, who believed, even before they had a revealed religion, that the souls of the good and the bad both exist forever.

There is no darkness like that which comes from rejected light. The rejection of the plain teachings of God's word has brought greater infidels than the heathen ever knew, and more heresies than the ancients ever dreamed of.

This notion of the annihilation of the wicked is propagated by putting a false meaning upon the Bible words "destruction" and "punishment." The word "destroy" does not mean to annihilate, but to wreck, ruin, render utterly useless for the purpose for which it was made. The words "everlasting destruction, "everlasting punishment," are perverted into meaning annihilation. If the wicked are to be annihilated and their punishment will not be everlasting, then their destruction will not be "everlasting." The everlastingness of punishment is put opposite the everlastingness of reward; and if it does not mean everlasting in the one case, neither does it mean that in the other.

Again, the word "death" is perverted into meaning annihilation. But the term "death" is the opposite of "life," and not the opposite of existence. Life and death are opposites; and it is false reason to take the opposite of life and make it mean the opposite of something else. We know in the realm of nature and of mind, that death is not annihilation. A piece of plank is dead; it was once a living tree, full of life, and the life has now left it; but it still exists. A dead human body still exists, with all its members and organs, though the life has left it; yet not one particle is annihilated. And in the realm of mind, Satan and evil spirits are dead in sin-they are separated from the true life of God, which is love; and yet they exist. And just as truly and as rationally as demons have an existence, who are separated from the life of God, so the souls of the wicked will exist forever, though dead in sin. This is implied in the words of Jesus, when He shall say: "depart from me, ye cursed, into hell, prepared for the devil and his angels." These very words imply that the wicked exist co-extensively with Satan and bad angels.

Again, there is not a single hint in the whole realm of matter of all kinds that anything will ever be annihilated. The Holy Spirit says, in Ecc. 3: 14: "I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever; nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it, and God doeth it that men should fear before Him.

This statement covers the whole extent of creation. There is no sign that any atom of matter has ever been annihilated. Created substances can undergo a thousand changes-solids become liquids, liquids solids, gases turn into rocks, and rocks into vapor-and there is no trace in the history of the world of anything like annihilation. And so in the human mind; we may forget millions of things, but under certain mental conditions, every event in our past lives can be recalled to the recollection.

This delusion of annihilation bears upon its very face the handiwork of the devil; it is just the doctrine that will suit the wicked-give them license to live as they please in this life, with the hope of plunging into non-existence when they leave this world.

No Christian can entertain an error like this without weakening the spiritual life, for all error is poison to the soul. Yet there are many people who fancy they can walk in communion with the Holy Ghost, and yet drink down this heresy that is afloat in the world. Some professed Christians fancy that they are more merciful than the Lord, and they think it will help out the doctrine of divine mercy to accept of the doctrine of mercy from the devil, for it is his aim to turn every truth of the word of God into a lie.

DAILY BIBLE PROVERB

Pr 5:7-14

"And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Keep your way far from her (the loose woman, or carnal vice), and do not go near the door of her house; lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless; lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of an alien; and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed, and you say, "How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors. I was at the point of utter ruin in the assembled congregation."

DAILY POEM

"We have a wonderful salvation. The Father THOUGHT it; The blood BOUGHT it; The Bible TAUGHT it; The spirit BROUGHT it; The devil FOUGHT it; Faith CAUGHT it; And I GOT it!"

-Anonymous

"Once I heard a song of sweetness, as it cleft the morning air, sounding in its blest completeness, like a tender, pleading prayer; and I sought to find the singer, whence the wondrous song was bourne; and I found a bird, sore wounded, pinioned by a cruel thorn.

"I have seen a soul in sadness, while its wings with pain were furl'd, giving hope, and cheer and gladness that should bless a weeping world; and I knew that life of sweetness, was of pain and sorrow borne; and a stricken soul was singing, with its heart against a thorn.

"Ye are told of One who loved you, of a Saviour crucified; ye are told of nails that pinioned, and a spear that pierced His side; ye are told of cruel scourging, of a Saviour bearing scorn, and He died for your Salvation, with His brow against a thorn.

"Ye 'are not above the Master.' Will you breathe a sweet refrain? And His grace will be sufficient, when your heart is pierced with pain. Will you live to bless His loved ones, tho' your life be bruised and torn, like the bird that sang so sweetly, with its heart against a thorn?"

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